Every major field of cultural and intellectual human advancement has been affected.

When scientists, doctors and teachers start speaking about censorship and self-censorship in their professions preventing them from doing their jobs to the best of their ability, you know you have a big fracking problem.

Religion and Free Speech

I was intrigued by the inclusion of Father John Bakas, a Greek Orthodox Christian priest, and Rabbi Moshe Taub.

They were able to advocate for free speech from a religious paradigm.

All of the Prophets of Allah were sent to their people to call them to Tawheed, Islamic monotheism, to worship Allah alone and not associate any partners with him.

They would also speak out against the injustice in their societies.

These ideas were considered “offensive” at the time.

All Prophets and their followers were persecuted.

The key difference here is that Prophetic speech is focused on upholding and proclaiming the Truth and fighting against oppression.

Which is a far cry from fighting for one’s right call to people “n***er” and “f**got.”

Muslims and Free Speech

I was both pleased and disappointed to see Muslims included.

Pleased because they did a good job.

Disappointed because there were only two.

Mirriam Seddiq AKA the Flaming Burka of Justice (my nickname for her,) Afghan-American Criminal Defense Attorney and private law firm haver, spoke about her experience as a first-generation immigrant.

She said the ability to speak freely is something Americans take for granted and needs to be defended.

Oz Sultan, a Big Data and Digital Media Strategist, spoke about the threat of self-censorship and the mob shouting down speech they find offensive.

Sultan is no stranger to free speech shenanigans.

He was the social media consultant for the Park51 Islamic Center (the “Ground Zero Mosque”) and handled their Twitter account during the height of the controversy around the project.

I would like to see more mainstream Muslim involvement in projects like this.

How come Cernovich can get Christian and Jewish priests to speak about their faiths in this context but he can’t find an Imam or Islamic scholar willing to speak?

Dave Rubin wants to talk about Islam and the best he can do is the munafiq zindiq Maajid Nawaz?

Joe Rogan wants to talk about Islam and the best he can do is the murtad “atheist Muslim” Ali Rizvi?

This is pure f***ery.

Where is the ‘Religious’ Crowd?

There is a gaping hole – barely any Muslims represent the orthodox Islamic position in the ongoing free speech debate.

Becoming the Alpha Muslim is an attempt to do my part but I’m just one guy.

I routinely face criticism from Muslims online for daring to articulate mainstream Islamic teachings without equivocation.

Unanswered Questions on Free Speech in Silenced

And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.

These religious restrictions are a form of self-censorship.

There is no such thing as unrestricted free speech in Islam.

I would have liked for there to be a deeper discussion on this topic.

Why do we self-censor?

Is holding your tongue to be polite and civil such a bad thing?

Relevant points were only mentioned by Father John Bakas in passing.

I also found the discussion on social consequences for offensive speech a little light.

I think many will agree that outrage culture and victimhood narrative has taken it too far but in response, its opponents have gone to the other extreme in being deliberately offensive.

Should people have the right to say absolutely anything with zero consequences in a civil society?

I didn’t see a compelling argument against it in the film, other than to say societal censorship is a slippery slope.

Personally, I think society was more civil when defending one’s honor was still a custom.

Back then, crossing the line carried the threat of violence.

You are far less likely to be offensive in public if there is a chance you can end up in a duel.

When can you see Silenced?

The release dates are being planned.

It will premiere in theaters in the U.S. and be followed by a digital release.

I might even host a private screening in Dubai when the digital version is available.